Djinni and the Geek

Chapter 3

The owner of the antique shop looked down at her youthful assailant who David had pinned to the floor, a broom handle across the perpetrator's throat. She bent to tug the bandana down to the boy's chin. She studied his face with her lips pressed into a thin line. "I know you, don't I?"

The youth squeezed his eyes shut. Dave eased up on his broom just enough to allow speech. "Yes, ma'am."

"And would you care to explain this behavior?"

The young man's eyes went wide and terrified. "No, ma'am."

"Do you and your sister have money to eat tonight?" The older woman looked down and shook her head.

The kid went slack beneath Dave. "No, ma'am."

The woman pursed her wrinkled lips and tapped her chin. "Well. Here's what we are going to do. You are going to sweep up the glass you broke."

She picked up the plastic sack she'd dropped when Dave took down the kid and withdrew the stack of cash. She placed two twenties on the counter and put the rest back into the register before turning back to the pair on the floor. "Then you are going to sweep the rest of the store, take those and go feed your sister. Come back tomorrow and I'll pay you ten dollars an hour to dust the store and clean the windows. Cash under the table. You do that and I won't call the police. Deal?"

"You've got to be kidding." Dave had kept his mouth shut up to this point but he couldn't believe she was letting this punk get away with a robbery attempt.

"It's my store and I believe this boy. Do we have a deal, Luis?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good." She turned her sharp emerald gaze on Dave. "Thank you though, young man. Not many people would have intervened. Now please let him up."

He did, reluctantly. He also took possession of the knife, then stayed around to make sure the young felon swept up without causing any further trouble. Well, it wasn't like he'd never done anything he shouldn't have as a kid. Especially when it had involved making sure his sister could eat.

Dave's shoulder, already aching from the tourney battle earlier had taken another good hit, so now it hurt like hell. A dozen other aches and pains had set up a steady background hum and Dave couldn't help wishing the campground had a hot tub.

The kid nodded glumly, picked up the broom Dave had set aside and got to work. He did a decent job, Dave noticed, though he kept his face down and refused to make eye contact with either of the adults.

"I'm Miriam Lazlo." The store owner held out a frail lined hand, which Dave shook, introducing himself. She had a surprisingly strong grip and her green eyes crinkled as she smiled at him. He returned it. She'd proven to be an interesting lady and he was glad he'd been in the right place at the right time to help her out.

"Since you appear to be staying for a bit, why don't you look around the store? Let me know if anything catches your eye. I hear the owner offers discounts to good Samaritans."

Well, he'd meant to find a gift for his sister. Keeping an eye on the kid, Dave wandered along the twisting aisles, then reached down to pick up the book he'd dropped on his way in. As he stooped over, a carved wooden box caught his attention. It was on the bottom shelf of a painted pie safe, nestled amid a pile of old lace doilies and souvenir tea towels from the fifties. Something about the gleam of the burnished wood inlay just called to him, so Dave picked it up. He'd have sworn it radiated warmth into his fingers but he knew that was impossible. It was about six inches long, by maybe four inches high and wide, the size of a small jewelry or cigar box. He blew a layer of dust off the top, awed by the simple beauty of the intertwined flower design.

A closer look showed no hinges, no seam where the box opened. He moved closer to the door, where the last of the sunlight trickled through. Still no opening. Not a box at all, then, just a pretty trinket.

Still it was unique enough that his sister might get a kick out of it. He walked up to the register just as Luis finished dumping the broken glass into a garbage can and as Miriam handed the kid the money off the counter.

"Nine o'clock, sharp, mind you. And you can bring your sister if you need to."

Luis nodded. "Yes ma'am. Nine o'clock sharp."

Dave stood with Miriam and watched the youth's retreating back as he hurried away down the street. "You really think he'll be back?"

"Oh yes." Miriam locked the front door with an antique brass key. "Now did you find anything you like?"

"How much is this?" He held up the box - paperweight - block - or whatever.

"Interesting." Miriam tapped her chin with her index finger. "Why that?"

Dave shrugged. "My sister's birthday is coming up. She likes unusual things."

Miriam shook her head. "No. That will never do for a birthday gift." She studied him for a minute with those oddly intent eyes, then selected a colorful Art Deco vase off the shelf behind her. "This for your sister. The box for yourself."

The woman was good. Jenna would adore the swirling gemstone hues of the glass vase. And there was a niggling sense of relief that he wouldn't have to give up the box. It felt sort of right in his hand. Dave nodded. "How much?"

Miriam consulted a sticker on the base of the vase and then twitched her lips. "Fifty for the vase. The box is free."

Dave raised one eyebrow in question.

The elderly woman shrugged and gave him a little smile. "Consider it a thank you gift. It's supposed to be a puzzle box but no one has ever been able to figure out the secret. Keep it for a year. If you haven't opened it by then, bring it back and exchange it for something else."

Aww, damn, Dave could never resist a puzzle. He turned the box over in his hand, then looked back at the vase. "Fifty, huh?"

"It's a good deal. Signed and dated by the artist in 1928."

What the hell, he could afford it. He reached for his wallet and dug out his credit card while Miriam carefully wrapped and boxed the vase, then placed it in a sturdy paper shopping bag, along with the box.

After ringing up the transaction, she handed it over with a smile. "Remember, one year. And good luck, young David. I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for."